Zoom AI Companion Alternatives: The Best Tools In A Complete Comparison!

What is the Zoom AI Companion?

The Zoom AI Companion is Zoom's built-in assistant, available with paid plans. It's designed to help users document, summarize, and follow up on meetings. The goal: to streamline everyday work. Meetings are transcribed automatically, tasks are identified, and email suggestions are generated based on the conversation.

Another useful feature is "Catch Me Up" – a short recap of what has been said so far, ideal if you join a meeting late. The AI also supports writing in Zoom Docs, Zoom Mail, and Zoom Whiteboards. In short, it's meant to enhance workflows within the Zoom ecosystem.

What the Zoom AI Companion can't do

Despite its benefits, the Zoom AI Companion has clear limitations. Most notably, it only works within Zoom. If you use Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, or other platforms, you won’t be able to access their features. You also can't transcribe external recordings or files.

Furthermore, it's a closed system. You can't train the AI on your own vocabulary or industry-specific terms. And integrations with external tools like CRMs or project management platforms (like Asana, Salesforce, Trello) are not supported. The AI operates entirely within Zoom.

Who is the Zoom AI Companion for – and who should look elsewhere?

The AI works well for companies that operate entirely within the Zoom ecosystem: Zoom for meetings, Zoom Mail for emails, Zoom Docs for documentation, Zoom Phone for calls, and so on. If that’s your setup, the integration can be seamless.

But for organizations using a mix of systems – say, Zoom for meetings, Outlook for email, and ClickUp for task management – the Companion offers limited value. Without integrations, it quickly becomes inefficient. Anyone looking for customization, data privacy, or platform flexibility should consider alternatives.

What are the best Zoom AI Companion alternatives?

Sally AI – All-in-One Alternative to Zoom AI Companion

Sally AI is a German tool that works independently of any platform – whether Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet. The AI joins meetings, records them, creates detailed transcripts and summaries, and identifies action items and decisions. Highlights include:

• CRM and tool integrations: Sally connects with over 5,000 tools like HubSpot, Salesforce, Asana, Trello, and Notion. Tasks can be forwarded automatically or used to enrich CRM records.
• Custom vocabulary: You can upload terms, product names, and jargon to improve transcription accuracy.
• GDPR-compliant & hosted in Germany: Data is encrypted and stored securely on German servers, with full deletion policies.

Advantages of Sally:

• Platform-independent (Zoom, Teams, Meet, in-person)
• High accuracy with custom vocabulary
• Full automation and deep integrations
• Top-level data protection
• Highly customizable (e.g., templates for meeting notes)

Disadvantages of Sally:

• No live captions during meetings
• No real-time transcription

Unique: Sally is one of the few tools combining strong data protection, deep integrations, and high customizability – ideal for midsized companies and compliance-driven teams.

Otter.ai – Real-time Zoom AI Companion Alternative

Otter.ai is widely used in the US. It offers live transcription during meetings, can display captions, and creates post-meeting summaries. Otter supports speaker recognition and real-time collaboration, and works with Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet.

Advantages of Otter:

• Real-time transcription during calls
• Intuitive interface
• Cross-platform compatibility

Disadvantages of Otter:

• Limited language support (mainly EN, FR, ES)
• No custom vocabulary
• Limited integration and automation

Unique: Otter is great for live meeting visibility or searchable records. But for European companies, its privacy model is a notable drawback.

Meet Jamie – Zoom AI Companion Alternative without a visible bot.

Jamie is a German tool that records meetings without showing a bot in the call. Instead, Jamie runs locally on your device. It records audio and analyzes it afterwards. Ideal for in-person meetings or private calls.

Advantages of Jamie:

• No bot in the meeting (yet legally problematic)
• Creates solid summaries and task lists

Disadvantages of Jamie:

• Legally problematic if used without participant consent and very clear communication
• No live transcription or real-time viewing
• It can get expensive for frequent use

Unique: Jamie works discreetly in the background. That’s a plus for sensitive meetings – but legally risky without clear consent. Transparency is key here.

Tucan.ai – Highly customizable, but not easily accessible

Tucan.ai is aimed at large organizations. It offers real-time transcription, structured summaries, task tracking, and sector-specific templates – useful for government, legal, or compliance meetings.

Advantages of Tucan:

• Highly customizable (e.g., custom meeting templates)
• On-premise option

Disadvantages of Tucan:

• Intransparent pricing – no clear public plans
• Access only via sales call – no free trial without contact
• Too complex and costly for smaller businesses

Unique: Tucan may be a good choice for enterprises or institutions that need a tailored, secure solution. But for anyone looking to test quickly, the sales process can be a barrier.

Conclusion: Which Zoom AI Companion alternative fits your needs?

If you're looking beyond Zoom, several strong alternatives offer distinct strengths:

• Sally AI is best for those who prioritize privacy, integrations, and customization. Great for professional teams and privacy-conscious companies.
• Otter.ai suits users who want live insights and don’t mind US hosting. Great for quick, readable transcripts.
• Jamie is ideal for those who want discretion, provided legal concerns are addressed.
• Tucan.ai is a fit for large organizations needing full control, but less so for startups or small teams.

The Zoom AI Companion works well if you're fully committed to Zoom. But if you want more integration, flexibility, or control over your data, it's worth exploring other options.

Especially if meetings play a key role in your sales, product, or HR workflows, it pays to choose a tool that not only transcribes but truly understands.

P.S.: You can try Sally for free.